Wind farm to blow in economy boost to South West Scotland

European energy company submits planning application for wind farm to Scottish Government. The South West of Scotland is in line for an economic boost if a wind farm is approved by the Scottish Government, the developer has said today.

The statement was made as Vattenfall, the Swedish energy company, submitted plans to the Scottish Government for its 50 turbine South Kyle Wind Farm near Patna, Carsphairn, Dalmellington and New Cumnock. The up to 170MW scheme could meet, on average, the equivalent annual electricity demand of more than 90,000 households in the UK.

Piers Guy, Vattenfall’s UK Onshore Wind Development Director, said: “If South Kyle Wind Farm is approved it will bring lasting economic benefit to the local community. We are committed to engaging with local people and businesses at each stage during the development process and we are committed to developing an excellent wind farm and maximising local economic benefit.”

“Developments like this not only make a substantial contribution to the environment, they also have a significant positive impact on both the local and national economy. At the peak of construction activity, if the proposal is approved, 79 people will be working on site. It is our intention to maximize the potential of local people working on South Kyle Wind Farm. It will cost more than £190mn to build South Kyle Wind Farm and the potential jobs boost that comes with it highlights the importance of the onshore wind sector to the Scottish economy.”

The application will now be considered by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit. During this period Vattenfall will meet and talk to companies across the region and beyond who have the skills and services to help build and operate the project if it is given consent.

If approved, it is anticipated that onshore construction could begin in 2016 and first power generation achieved in 2018.

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Vattenfall is a European energy company with approximately 20,000 employees. For more than 100 years we have electrified industries, supplied energy to people's homes and modernised our way of living through innovation and cooperation. We now want to make fossil-free living possible within one generation.